Stranger in a Strange Land

Posted on Mon Jan 9th, 2023 @ 6:49pm by

Mission: BUGS OH NO!!
Location: Various
Timeline: Prior to Departure from Starbase Pegasus

Off:

[Ilim’s Quarters]

Ilim had found his quarters and gotten comfortable, but even with all of the plants he had brought from Betazed to make his personal space as green as possible, it wasn’t long before he felt stifled by the sterility of a Starship. How under Eliah’s good grace was he going to survive?

He was mulling it over when a rattling sound from the corner drew his attention. ~How are you settling in Ghost?~

The Nightwind Falcon looked up at him from his perch balefully.

~No smell, no like.~

~Are you sure you’re up for this? I could have left you at home you know.~

~Want come, love two leg. Stay with two leg.~

~Ok. Maybe I can find you some other birds to play with.~

He glanced at the chronometer. He had just over an hour before his meeting with Lt Zolon, his new boss. There was just enough time to check out the Arboretum the Security guard had mentioned.

[Arboretum]

It was the smell he noticed first, exiting the turbolift and turning down a corridor that led to the Arboretum. He didn’t realize how much he had already started to miss the smell of Earth, and it hit him like a proverbial sledgehammer, in the most pleasing sort of way. The juxtaposition of smells was almost overwhelming.

As he entered the enormous two-level space, he was overjoyed to see so much green. As he slowly walked the stone pathways, he wondered idly how he could convince the Science department to allow him to set up his quarters here.

By the time he reached the center, adorned by an enormous tree from Earth known as colloquially ‘Oak’, he had already spotted more plant species than he could count from many different worlds. He had found several Betazed species, including a Cavat and a Chameleon Rose.

He sat down on a nearby bench and closed his eyes, reaching out with his senses and just taking in the feeling of so many living things in one place. He breathed deeply, and felt his connection with Eliah stir in his soul.

This would do, he thought happily. This would definitely do.

Off:

Ensign Ilim Ocha
Science – Botany
USS Amandora